Can you move abroad from India while earning ₹1–2 lakh per month?
Yes — but the answer depends heavily on how you earn that money.
A ₹1.5 lakh salary in India does not automatically qualify you for a digital-nomad visa in Europe.
In many cases, the more realistic path is to get a local job and use a work permit, rather than trying to move abroad on savings alone.
For Indian professionals, especially those working in software, AI, game development, engineering, or other skilled fields, these are some of the most interesting countries to explore in 2026.
For Indian professionals, especially those in software, AI, game development, engineering, or other skilled fields, these are among the most interesting countries to explore in 2026.
Important: Immigration rules and income thresholds change. The figures below are based on official information available in 2026 and should be rechecked immediately before applying.
🇩🇪 1. Germany — Best Overall for Skilled Professionals
Germany would be my #1 option for an Indian professional earning ₹1–2 lakh/month in India, particularly if you have several years of experience.
Why?
Because Germany’s immigration system provides multiple employment routes where your future German salary and job offer matter much more than having a huge savings account.
The EU Blue Card requires a qualifying job offer of at least six months and, in 2026, a gross annual salary of €50,700. For certain shortage occupations, including several technology/STEM categories, the threshold is €45,934.20. Germany also has routes for experienced IT professionals without a traditional university qualification under certain conditions.
That means an Indian earning ₹1.35 lakh today doesn’t need to have ₹20 lakh sitting in the bank to eventually move to Germany.
The strategy is:
Indian salary → German job offer → German work/residence permit → move.
Best for
Software developers, IT professionals, AI engineers, engineers, STEM graduates and experienced technology workers.
Difficulty
⭐⭐⭐½
Long-term potential
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇪🇸 2. Spain — Excellent for Remote Workers
Spain is one of the most interesting options if your ₹1–2 lakh/month income comes from a foreign employer or remote business.
Spain’s digital-nomad visa allows eligible foreign professionals to live in Spain while working remotely for companies outside Spain. Applicants generally need a recognized degree/qualification or at least three years of professional experience in their field. The spouse can also qualify as a family member.
However, there is a major catch:
The financial requirement is based on 200% of Spain’s monthly minimum wage, plus an additional amount for the first family member.
So a person earning only ₹1 lakh/month may not qualify through this route.
For someone closer to ₹2 lakh/month, the exact exchange rate and the official income calculation matter.
Best for
Remote software developers, consultants, designers, freelancers and online professionals.
Family
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lifestyle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇵🇹 3. Portugal — Good for Remote and Independent Professionals
Portugal remains an attractive European destination for people who can demonstrate a stable professional income.
Portugal provides residence-visa routes for independent professionals and entrepreneurs, and it also maintains a dedicated remote-work residence route.
The important distinction is that Portugal isn’t simply saying:
“Have x in your bank account and move.”
The immigration route depends on your income source, employment/contractual relationship and supporting documents.
For someone working remotely for an overseas company or operating as an independent professional, Portugal is therefore worth investigating.
Best for
Remote workers, freelancers, entrepreneurs and independent professionals.
Lifestyle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost
⭐⭐⭐
🇲🇾 4. Malaysia — Great Lower-Cost Asian Option
For someone earning ₹1–2 lakh/month, Malaysia can be much more practical than expensive Western European countries.
Kuala Lumpur offers relatively affordable living costs compared with cities such as London, Amsterdam or Zurich.
Malaysia also has the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, designed for certain remote workers and digital professionals.
The important advantage here is not necessarily a magical low visa threshold. It is the combination of:
lower living costs + good infrastructure + proximity to India + English-friendly environment.
For someone who wants to test living abroad before committing to Europe, Malaysia is worth considering.
Best for
IT professionals, freelancers, remote workers and digital entrepreneurs.
Lifestyle
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Affordability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇹🇭 5. Thailand — Attractive for Remote Workers
Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is designed for eligible remote workers, freelancers and people participating in certain qualifying activities.
The official Thai consular guidance states that applicants under the workcation category need financial evidence of at least 500,000 Thai baht, along with appropriate employment, remote-work or professional documentation.
So Thailand isn’t actually a “₹1 lakh salary = easy visa” destination.
However, if you’re earning closer to ₹2 lakh/month and have accumulated savings, it can become an interesting long-stay option.
And your money generally goes further in Thailand than in most Western European capitals.
Best for
Remote workers, freelancers and location-independent professionals.
Affordability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Visa difficulty
⭐⭐⭐
🇭🇺 6. Hungary — Interesting for Digital Nomads
Hungary’s White Card is specifically designed for qualifying digital nomads who work remotely for an overseas employer or operate an overseas business.
The Hungarian immigration authority currently requires regular legal income of at least €3,000 net per month, with the financial condition maintained over the relevant period.
So this isn’t realistic for most people earning ₹1–2 lakh/month.
But it becomes interesting once your income increases.
Best for
Higher-earning remote technology professionals.
Current fit for ₹1–2L salary
⭐½
🇭🇷 7. Croatia — Beautiful, but Income Matters
Croatia offers a temporary residence route for digital nomads working for companies outside Croatia.
However, the financial requirement is considerably above a ₹1–2 lakh Indian salary.
Croatia currently requires digital nomads to demonstrate €3,622.50/month or equivalent financial resources, with additional amounts for family members.
So why include Croatia?
Because it’s an excellent future option once your remote income increases.
Best for
Higher-paid remote professionals.
Current fit
⭐½
🇪🇪 8. Estonia — Great Tech Environment, High Income Requirement
Estonia is one of Europe’s most digitally advanced countries and has a dedicated digital-nomad visa.
But the financial requirement is high: Estonia currently lists €132 per day, equivalent to approximately €3,960 per month, for teleworking applicants.
So Estonia is attractive for technology professionals, but it isn’t really a low-income relocation route.
Best for
Experienced tech professionals earning substantially more than ₹2 lakh/month.
Current fit
⭐⭐
🇬🇷 9. Greece — Lifestyle Winner, Income Required
Greece offers a digital-nomad route for people with qualifying remote employment or professional activity.
For someone earning ₹1–2 lakh/month, however, the financial threshold can make this difficult.
The country becomes much more interesting after your remote income rises substantially.
Best for
Remote workers with established international income.
Lifestyle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Current fit
⭐⭐
🇦🇪 10. UAE — One of the Best Career Moves
The UAE deserves consideration for a different reason.
If you’re earning ₹1–2 lakh/month in India, moving to the UAE through employment can potentially change the equation dramatically because you can target a higher-paying regional job while remaining relatively close to India.
For technology professionals, Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer large markets for:
- Software development
- AI
- AR/VR
- Game development
- Cloud
- Data
- Cybersecurity
The key here is again employment, not simply savings.
Best for
Professionals looking for higher salaries and proximity to India.
Career potential
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
The Big Mistake Indians Make
When researching relocation, people often search:
“Which country allows Indians to move with ₹2 lakh?”
That’s not quite the right question.
Instead ask:
“Which immigration route can I qualify for with my profession and income?”
There is a huge difference.
Example
Suppose you’re earning:
₹1.5 lakh/month in India
but receive a German job offer for:
€50,700/year
Germany may become realistic because your future employment is the basis of your residence route.
On the other hand, a Spanish digital-nomad route may still be difficult if your remote income doesn’t meet the required threshold.
📊 Quick Comparison
| Country | Best route | Fit for ₹1–2L/month | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Skilled employment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Tech & skilled workers |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Digital Nomad | ⭐⭐⭐ | Remote professionals |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Remote/independent work | ⭐⭐⭐ | Remote workers |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau / employment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Asian remote base |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | DTV / employment | ⭐⭐⭐ | Remote workers |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | Employment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Career + salary growth |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | White Card | ⭐½ | High-income remote workers |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Digital Nomad | ⭐½ | High-income remote workers |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | Digital Nomad | ⭐⭐ | High-income tech workers |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Digital Nomad | ⭐⭐ | High-income remote workers |
🏆 My Top 5
For an Indian professional earning ₹1–2 lakh/month, I’d prioritize:
🥇 Germany
Best for building a new career abroad.
🥈 UAE
Best for potentially increasing your salary quickly while staying close to India.
🥉 Malaysia
Best lower-cost international lifestyle option.
4️⃣ Spain
Best if you’re already working remotely and can meet the income requirement.
5️⃣ Portugal
Good long-term European option for qualifying remote/independent professionals.
What About Someone Earning ₹1.35 Lakh?
Here’s the interesting part.
If you’re earning around ₹1.35 lakh/month in India, I would not focus on expensive digital-nomad visas first.
I’d focus on:
🇩🇪 Germany → Find a job
🇦🇪 UAE → Find a higher-paying job
🇲🇾 Malaysia → Remote/employment route
And then consider Spain or Portugal after increasing your international/remote income.
Germany’s current skilled-worker rules are especially relevant because experienced IT professionals can qualify through multiple routes, including some routes that don’t require a traditional German-recognized degree.
Final Takeaway
You don’t need to be a millionaire to move abroad.
For most Indians earning ₹1–2 lakh/month, the smartest strategy is:
Don’t try to move on savings alone.
Instead:
Build skills → get an overseas job → use the work/residence permit → move → take your spouse → increase your income.
For remote workers, the strategy is different:
Build a stable foreign income → qualify for a digital-nomad route → move legally.
And for someone with a technical background, Germany deserves particularly serious attention in 2026 because its skilled-worker system can make your earning potential after relocation much more important than your current Indian bank balance.